Lucian's voice sharpened, his grip tightening. "Do you even know…"
"I know!" I shook his hand off. "You're mistaken. I'm not Elara. I'm Ivy. Mr. Vance, don't you hate me? The only person in your heart should be Miss Ardent. I've done everything you asked. Can you let me go now?"
He studied my face, searching for something, but found nothing. My expression remained calm and empty, as if he were a stranger. It was a look I had spent three years perfecting, all for this moment.
'Lucian, I can't acknowledge you. You belong to this story and should live the life it has written for you, while I was never meant to exist in it at all.'
Lucian drew a slow breath. When he opened his eyes again, he was calm, as if the man who had just lost control was someone else entirely. He let out a quiet lau
